This episode and Just for Sidekicks take place simultaneously, with the former focusing on Twilight Sparkle and her friends welcoming the Equestria Games inspector to the Crystal Empire and the latter focusing on Spike taking care of the main cast's pets.

Contents

Production and development

A new stadium has been built behind the Crystal Empire's central castle tower.

On July 11, 2012, layout supervisor Tim Stuby posted online a sketch of Rainbow Dash, as she appears after returning from her collision with the Crystal Empire spa in this episode, with the text "please make rd look more like a hobo. ty."[2][3] In early January 2013, he stated on Twitter that "312 has a new title".[4]

During the week leading up to the episode's scheduled premiere, story editor Meghan McCarthy wrote on Twitter that the original name for a new character introduced in the episode was Ms. Peachbottom.[5]

On December 7, 2013, the episode's writer Dave Polsky was asked "Was there a point in drafting or wherever that the ending of Games Ponies Play made sense?" and replied "There was an unfortunate mix up on that episode, that would have been caught were the sched not so tight. That's all I'll say."[6]

Twilight and her friends arrive at the Crystal Empire, which Crystal Ponies are sprucing up for the Inspector's visit. They meet Princess Cadance in a spa, where she is waiting to get her hair done in a traditional ceremonial headdress. The ponies enjoy the spa's services while they wait.

A messenger arrives to tell Princess Cadance that her mane-stylist has come down with the flu. None of the other hairdressers know how to style the ceremonial headdress, but Rarity offers to attempt the procedure. The messenger adds that the Inspector, Ms. Harshwhinny, will be arriving in fifteen minutes.

Welcoming "Ms. Harshwhinny"

Now THIS is what I call a reception.

As everyone begins to panic, Twilight calms herself and takes charge of the situation. She tells Rarity to have Cadance back at the castle when the headdress is done, and leads the rest of her friends to the train station, telling them to be on the lookout for a pony with flower print luggage. Rainbow Dash is certain that the Inspector's early arrival is part of a plan to "psych [them] out."

A green-maned mare carrying a floral print bag steps off the train. Believing her to be the Games Inspector, Twilight and her friends welcome her. She warms up to them, and is thrilled by the fact that Princess Cadance organized such a welcome for her. As they head to the castle, a formally-dressed pony carrying a floral print bag waits impatiently on the train platform.

The grand tour

At the spa, Rarity discovers that skipping a step in the headdress preparation, which she did to save time, has messed up Cadance's mane.

Practice makes perfect.

Meanwhile, Twilight and her friends show the Inspector the castle. The Inspector seems to be both claustrophobic and altocelarophobic.[note 1] She is eager to go outside and stretch her legs, but not before Twilight and her friends perform their elaborate cheer to properly welcome the Inspector to the Crystal Empire. She applauds and is surprised that Princess Cadance even knows her. Twilight's friends decide to show the Inspector around the castle, even though they've hardly explored the castle themselves. Twilight goes to check on Cadance. On her way to the spa, she passes by the formally-dressed pony, who is splashed with mud when a cart passes by. Twilight arrives at the spa, but Rarity won't let her see Cadance because she needs more time to fix her huge mistake.

Somepony really likes to stretch her legs.

Back at the castle, Pinkie is showing the Inspector around. Twilight asks Shining Armor to give the Inspector a proper tour. At that moment, the other ponies and the Inspector enter the stadium, and the Inspector is so overjoyed to be outdoors that she runs around the track. She is thrilled to meet Prince Shining Armor, and says she is thoroughly enjoying her "vacation". To their horror, the ponies find out that she is Ms. Peachbottom, not Ms. Harshwhinny.

"We got the wrong pony?!"

— Rainbow Dash

Where's the real Inspector?

A chance meeting at the spa.

Twilight and her friends dash to the train station, but Ms. Harshwhinny isn't there. Meanwhile, Ms. Harshwhinny is having a hooficure and Ms. Peachbottom is getting a massage in the spa. Ms. Harshwhinny complains that she was neglected all day. When Ms. Peachbottom starts to tell her about her wonderful visit, Twilight and her friends rush in. Rarity shows them Cadance, her mane fixed and ceremonial headdress complete.

Ms. Harshwhinny walks over and tells Cadance there wasn't a welcome for her at all. Rainbow Dash confesses to the princess that they welcomed the wrong pony. However, Ms. Harshwhinny changes her mind when Ms. Peachbottom tells her about the warm reception that Twilight and her friends gave her.

Mission accomplished!

"The next host of the Equestria Games is... the Crystal Empire!"

— Princess Cadance to the Crystal Ponies

The Crystal Ponies' exhilaration super-charges the Crystal Heart, and it shoots a beam of light into the sky that bursts into an aurora of colors.

Going home

This looks oddly familiar.

As Twilight and her friends wait for the train back to Ponyville, Rainbow Dash basks in the satisfaction of helping the Crystal Empire win the competition and says she looks forward to coming back to watch the Games. Just before Fluttershy boards the train, she sees a cart of luggage fall over as a green jewel flies by.

Rainbow Dash feels sorry that Spike had to miss out on everything, but Twilight is sure that he's having plenty of fun taking care of their pets back home. Applejack hears something growling and asks her friends if they can hear it as well.